New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram says he will feel disappointed if the Prime Minister does not announce a total lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
"What will the PM announce at 8 pm today? I will be disappointed if the PM did not announce a total lockdown, at least of all towns and cities, for a period of 2-4 weeks," Chidambaram tweeted.
"Anything less will be letting down this country," he added.
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What will the PM announce at 8 pm today?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 19, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
I will be disappointed if the PM did not announce a total lockdown, at least of all towns and cities, for a period of 2-4 weeks.
Anything less will be letting down this country.
">What will the PM announce at 8 pm today?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 19, 2020
I will be disappointed if the PM did not announce a total lockdown, at least of all towns and cities, for a period of 2-4 weeks.
Anything less will be letting down this country.What will the PM announce at 8 pm today?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 19, 2020
I will be disappointed if the PM did not announce a total lockdown, at least of all towns and cities, for a period of 2-4 weeks.
Anything less will be letting down this country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation on the situation arising out of coronavirus outbreak and the efforts to combat it.
COVID-19 cases in India climbed to 169 on Thursday after fresh cases were reported, including from Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh, while most of the states and UT's imposed restrictions, inching towards partial shutdown in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed four lives in the country.
Read: COVID-19 LIVE: Sample of Punjab man who passed away tests positive
As the virus continued to spread its tentacles across India, several parts, including Kashmir valley headed towards a virtual lockdown with the administration restricting movement of people in several parts and banning all public transport in Srinagar city.
Punjab also inched towards virtual shutdown with the government announcing suspension of public transport services from Friday midnight and restricting public gatherings to less than 20 besides deciding to close down marriage palaces, hotels, restaurants, banquets and dining places, except home delivery services and takeaways in the entire state.
As part of its efforts to detect and prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed over 8,000 lives globally and infected more than two lakh, the Centre allowed 50 per cent of its employees to work from home besides staggering working hours for its staff. It also directed the Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure that 50 per cent of Group B and C employees are required to attend office every day and the remaining 50 per cent staff is instructed to work from home.
